Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Paleo-Orthodoxy: An Early Christian Baptismal Rite

What follows is a reconstruction of the baptismal rite of the early church, as explained by the Church Fathers and the Didache. The
Didache requires that we baptize in “living” water; that is, a
lake, river or stream. However, if we have no access to living water,
other means such as an indoor baptismal font are acceptable. Cold
water is preferred, but warm is acceptable. In extreme situations,
baptism may be performed by pouring water three times over the head
of the person to be baptized, in the Name of the Father, and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit. Those to be baptized must fast at least
one day before baptism.

OPENING
PRAYER

Presbyter:
Lord God, who has formerly said by Your prophets to those
that were to be initiated, Wash and become clean; and has through
Jesus Christ appointed the spiritual regeneration; look upon these
that are about to be baptized, and bless them, and sanctify them, and
prepare them, that they may become worthy of Your spiritual gift, and
of the true adoption; of Your spiritual mysteries; of being gathered
together with those that are saved through Christ our Savior; through
whom glory, honor, and worship, be to You, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, forever. Amen.

Deacon:
You who are to be baptized, prepare yourselves.

Those
who are to be baptized prepare themselves for baptism, putting on
white robes. No one is permitted to wear any foreign objects in the
waters of baptism.

Gathering
at the place of baptism, the presbyter and people offer a personal
prayer over the waters of baptism, asking God to bless them.

The
presbyter or bishop will have some anointing oil, over which he will
pray in thanksgiving. This is the Oil of Thanksgiving.

Another
vial of oil is blessed and exorcised by the presbyter or bishop. This
is the Oil of Exorcism.

One
deacon will stand to the left of the presbyter or bishop, holding the
Oil of Exorcism.

Another
deacon will stand to the right of the presbyter or bishop, holding
the Oil of Thanksgiving.

The
presbyter or bishop then speaks to each person to be ordained,
individually.

THE
RENUNCIATION

Presbyter:
Repeat after me: I renounce you
Satan, all your service and all your works.

Catechumen: I renounce you Satan, all your service and all your works.

THE
EXORCISM

Presbyter
then anoints their foreheads with the Oil of Exorcism.

Presbyter:
In the Name of Jesus, let every
evil spirit depart from you.

THE
INTERROGATION

A
deacon or elder then proceeds with the one to be baptized into the
waters. The presbyter or bishop then lays his hands on them saying:

Presbyter:
Do you believe in God, the
Father Almighty?

Catechumen:
I believe.

The
deacon then immerses the person. The presbyter or bishop continues:

Presbyter:
Do
you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born of the Holy
Spirit by the Virgin Mary, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
and died,
and rose on the third day living from the dead, and ascended into
heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, the one coming
to judge the living and the dead?

Catechumen:
I believe.

The
deacon immerses the person again. The presbyter or bishop continues:

Presbyter:
Do
you believe in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Church and the
resurrection of the flesh?

Catechumen:
I believe.

THE
IMMERSION

Presbyter:
I baptize you in the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The
deacon immerses the person a third and final time. Immediately after
coming out of the waters, a deacon or elder anoints their head with
the Oil of Thanksgiving.

THE
ANOINTING WITH THE OIL OF THANKSGIVING

Deacon
or Elder: I anoint you with
holy oil in the Name of Jesus Christ.

The
newly baptized then get dressed in dry clothing and gather together
with the presbyter and congregation. The presbyter or bishop will
then bless each one, laying hands on them and saying:

THE
BLESSING

Presbyter:
Lord
God, You who have made ______ worthy of the removal of sins through
the bath of regeneration, make him/her worthy to be filled with Your
Holy Spirit, grant to __________ Your grace, that he/she might serve
You according to Your will, for to You is the glory, Father and Son
with the Holy Spirit, in the Holy Church, now and throughout the ages
of the ages. Amen.

THE
SEALING

Sealing
them with the sign of the cross on their foreheads with holy oil, the
presbyter or bishop says:

Presbyter:
I
anoint you with holy oil in the Name of God the Father Almighty, and
Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.